The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling green homes
-
An Intro to the Control Layers of a Wall
The first time I came by the term “control layer” was in a 2010 Building Science Corporation article called “The Perfect Wall," written by the firm's principal, Joseph Lstiburek. In…
-
Step Flashing With Exterior Insulation
Step flashing a roof to a wall with continuous exterior insulation requires a decision: Do you bring the step flashing back to the structural wall sheathing behind the continuous exterior…
-
A Pretty Good House in the Sierra Nevada
Though he landed his first job in architecture while still in high school, architect Jeff Adams's path to designing high-performance homes wasn’t a straight line. When his father encouraged him…
-
Indoor Air Quality and VOCs
Do you know what activity we spend the most time doing? The answer is sleep. According to the Wall Street Journal, we spend more time sleeping than we do working,…
-
Designing for a Hot, Humid City
If you are interested in high-performance building for hot and humid climates, you probably have heard of Austin, Texas-based architect Peter Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer is an environmentalist, a building scientist, and…
-
Kickout Flashing: Often Overlooked and Under Appreciated
We were building a new deck on the back of a house when we had to break for a couple days because of heavy rain. When we returned, the client…
-
Green Building Bulletin Board
A GBA reader suggested that we create a regional list of resources for green builders and homeowners. The list will include materials suppliers, consultants, and builders, separated by region. The…
-
Podcast: Fine Homebuilding Editors Talk With Martin Holladay
Fine Homebuilding editors Justin Fink and Patrick McCombe recently invited GBA editor Martin Holladay to join them for their weekly podcast. The discussion ranged from heat-pump efficiency at high altitudes,…
-
GBA Prime Sneak Peek: Bathroom Design
GBA Prime subscribers have access to many articles that aren't accessible to non-subscribers, including Martin Holladay's weekly blog series, “Musings of an Energy Nerd.” To whet the appetite of non-subscribers,…
-
Thermal and Moisture Control Layers
Editor's note: This post originally was published as part of the ProHOME series at Fine Homebuilding magazine. Michael Maines is a Certified Passive House Consultant and residential designer based in…
